‘I forgot Hot Dog.’

‘Pardon?’

‘I forgot Hot Dog,’ he said, pointing to the toy that I was still holding in my hand. ‘I bought it for Clive a couple of weeks ago and he’s grown quite attached to it. He doesn’t like to go anywhere without it now.’

I smiled in spite of myself. ‘You’d better take it, then.’ I handed it over.

‘Thanks.’ Jack turned back to the door, one hand on the side of it. Without looking back at me he spoke. ‘I know you probably don’t think it, but I absolutely hate arguing with you. I can’t bear seeing you cry, and I never meant to upset you. But I want you to live rather than just exist.’ With that, he opened the door and was quickly gone.

I heard his boots crunching on the gravel as he walked around to the car and then an excited bark as Clive obviously saw his favourite toy. In the sky, a few wispy clouds decorated the solid blue, and a gentle, warm breeze drifted in through the open window. I stood for a moment watching the clouds float lazily along.

‘Oh God, that man!’ I cursed as I pulled the door open and ran round to where the cars were parked. Jack was just reversing out but stopped as he saw me, buzzing down a window.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘What’s wrong is that you’re a huge pain in the arse and I’m wishing I’d never agreed to having you stay here. But secondly, do you have a couple of minutes to wait for me?’

‘As you asked so nicely…’ He looked back towards the dog in the boot. ‘What do you reckon, boy? Should we wait for her?’

I narrowed my eyes at Jack. ‘Give me two minutes.’

16

We’d been driving for a while now. I turned occasionally to see Clive looking contentedly out of the back window.

‘He’s very good in the car, isn’t he?’

Jack looked back at the dog in the rear-view mirror. ‘He is. He’s a good boy, generally.’

There was silence between us for a moment before I spoke again. ‘It’s not that I don’t think he’s a lovely dog. It’s just that they are a commitment, and I’m not sure I’m ready for that.’

‘No, I get it,’ Jack said, without taking his eyes from the road, and a distinct lack of emotion in his voice.

We drove on for a while with little conversation and just the background noise of Classic FM playing quietly to break the silence until we turned off the road. I caught the road sign as we began to climb a hill.

‘Box Hill? Is that where we’re going?’ I asked, excitedly.

Jack glanced across. ‘Yes. There are some good walks here and I thought you might enjoy the setting.’

‘I’ve wanted to come here forever. Mike and I always meant to come but somehow never got around to it. There’s a picnic scene in—’

‘Jane Austen’s Emma.’ He smiled at me briefly, but I was relieved to see warmth in it this time. ‘I know. I’m afraid I can’t quite arrange all the servants and the full spread, but I did get a few things from Marks and Spencer yesterday on the off-chance I could persuade you out, so hopefully that will be OK.’